What does cousin mean?
A cousin is a relative who descends from a common ancestor but is not in one's direct line of descent — most familiar as the child of one's aunt or uncle. First cousins share grandparents; second cousins share great-grandparents; and the terms continue outward to describe increasingly distant kin. The word is neutral in tone and works equally well in formal genealogy and casual conversation, where an unqualified 'my cousin' typically means a first cousin. Beyond literal kinship, 'cousin' appears figuratively to describe things of shared origin, as when linguists call two languages 'cousins.' Historically, the term's reach was broader still: in Middle English it could refer to any close friend or ally, reflecting its Old French roots. Its derivatives include 'cousinly,' describing behavior befitting a cousin, and rarer forms like 'cousinhood.' Few kinship words are so flexible, spanning blood relations, metaphorical affinity, and centuries of shifting social meaning.
nounA child of one's uncle or aunt; a relative sharing a common ancestor, typically a grandparent or more distant forebear.
- A child of one's uncle or aunt (a first cousin).
- Any more distant relative descended from a shared ancestor (second cousin, third cousin, etc.).
- A person with whom one shares ancestry through a common forebear rather than a direct line.
- (Figurative/historical) A close friend, associate, or thing related in kind or origin.
"My cousin Sara flew in from Chicago for the wedding."
"She grew up spending every summer at her cousin's farm in Vermont."
"Though they'd never met, the two scientists were distant cousins several times removed."
Regular plural; standard in all contexts.
"All twelve cousins gathered at the reunion."
The word 'cousin' once covered far more than family — medieval English speakers used it for any close friend, ally, or political supporter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cousin
Cousin entered Middle English around the 13th century from Old French 'cusin,' which itself derived from Latin 'consobrinus,' meaning 'mother's sister's son.' The Latin root combines 'com-' ('together') with 'sobrinus,' a variant relating to sisters. Medieval usage was notably broad, embracing friends and allies generally before narrowing to its modern kinship sense. Related words from the same Latin family include 'consanguinity' and 'consonant,' both built on the prefix 'com-.'
Related word forms
How cousin is actually used
Neutral register, suitable in both formal and informal contexts. In everyday speech, 'cousin' without qualification usually means first cousin. Kinship terminology varies by culture: some languages distinguish maternal from paternal cousins, while English does not.
Easily confused with cousin
'Cozen' is a verb meaning to deceive or cheat, while 'cousin' is a noun denoting a relative — the two share an etymological link but differ entirely in meaning and use.